I don't know how to start this. I am not the kind of person who usually asks for help of any kind yet this is really bad and I don't know what to do anymore.

About five months ago, my wife went to the doctor to request a medication chancge. She had been on anti-depressents for many years for an ongoing brain problem (so they said). She had been on celexa for about 3 years and felt like it wasn't working anymore. The doctor prescribed activia and cymbalta with no wean off period. immediately, she changed. She became very withdrawn and quiet. This was around Thanksgiving last year.

She complained about not feeling right at all and became more passive and began to lose her personality. This is a woman who was fiery and passionate and had a bright spark in her eye. She was a wonderful person who always loved everyone and wanted to live life to it's fullest.

Now, she just sits there and stares blankly into space. Her muscles are all so hard that she can't even stand it. She doesn't sleep or eat anymore and she can't even have a bowel movement. She has been asking me to help her commit suicide because she can't stand it and she wants to die. I work all of the time to support us and my Daughter. My wife lost her job and can't even leave the house. Her friend is here right now and can't belive how bad she looks.

It goes on and on. You guys don't even know. I wake up at 3 in the morning and there she is standing in the dark in the kitchen all by herself, shaking from the muscle tremores that keep her awake. When she lays down, her heart starts beating harder and she gets adrenaline rushes that make her tremor worse.

I have taken her to several "meetings" with psycholigists that suggest she go to the emergency room and take high doses of thorazine for sleep and then get admited to a mental hospital for further treatment. Her best friend died today and she can't even cry, but she cried when she asked me to help her kill herself, she pleaded and told me she is tortured and thinks of being dead all day while I am at work.

What do I do? This is just the tip of the iceberg, you guys don't know. This is horror. She has had an MRI and that showed nothing. She wants a real-time brain scan that shows what parts of the brain is working because she insists that she has brain damage and she will never come out from this.


I am lost. This is killing me, I need some kind of help to get her help. Please. Just like she says. please help me die. Every day. I keep telling her not to give up but she says she knows herself and she is gone. What do I do?

There is so much more going on with her now. Her stomach is beginning to bloat and when she shakes her head she says she hears a crackling sound inside her head. I am being completely honest her. This woman does not sleep at all and has not for months. What is wrong with her. One of her psychiatrists diagnosed her with seratonin syndrome but this is severe, she keeps getting worse. She can't take any kind of medications because her face turns red and she becomes more agitated.

She keps telling me she is living in hell and wants to die. We need help!

Welcome!! I'm confused, the muscle tremors and stiffness has just started since starting the Cymbalta? I would get her to PCP and get her off the cymbalta, a lot of these anti-depressants can cause suicidal thoughts. I am a long time sufferer of depression and have tried a lot of meds. I am currently on Lexapro, which was working ok but my PCP put me on abilify as a booster and I haven't felt this good in years. I would definetly get her into counceling with a therapist, where she can maybe talk things out. I can definatly understand where she is coming from. Keep us posted.Good Luck and GOD Bless!!

I have to agree that she's have some reaction to the medication she's on, and her doctor SHOULD be able to recognize this! What does her doctor say about her current condition? Isn't he willing to do ANYTHING about it?

You should have her see someone else -- perhaps a NEUROLOGIST who would understand the workings of the brain. At least that's where I would start.

I wish you the very best. I'm sure this is reversable. God bless and please take care. Hugs, Lee

Hello stoppitt and welcome to NeuroTalk.

Was the Celexa and Cymbalta prescribed by a Psychiatrist? These types of medications really should be monitored by a Psychiatrist. These types of medications need to be tapered off due to withdrawl side effects. By what you have written the prescribing Doctor didn't handle the transitioning from one medication to the next in a proper way.

My guess, as I am not a Doctor, is her physical and mental state could be caused by the withdrawl of one medication and side effects from the other. Please, Please get her into a Doctor asap before something tragic happens


Information about Celexa:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...s/a699001.html

Information about Cymbalta:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...s/a604030.html

You can google Celexa withdrawl and find a lot of information. Please stay in touch...we care.

stoppitt, it would not be a bad idea for her to go "in patient" at a mental health facility so she can be monitored. If she goes to the ER they can handle it from there.

Hello,
I am so sorry to hear your wife is in this condition. She sounds as if she is in real pain. Do you think she could have chronic pain? I don't know what type of brain injury you are referring to but I also have a brain injury. I have post concussive syndrome and it is manifested by cognitive impairment and chronic pain. I remember before my pain was treated properly begging others to kill me. Actually offered money to one person to kill me. Has your wife been in a car accident or had any sort of blow to the head? This could be as simple as passing out and hitting her head or being hit with a ball or something? I had a complete change in personality while I was in severe untreated pain. My family could not figure out what was going on with me. Since being treated with the correct medication I am myself again. What you are describing to me sounds more like a problem with pain more than it does something mentally wrong. I was tried on many different kinds of anti-depressants also and had very bad reactions to them. Those types of medications in my opinion are bad medicine. Does your wife complain of pain? Does she moan or whimper a lot? I would try giving her some narcotic pain medication and see if this helps any. If she does have chronic pain it takes a few weeks of a long acting narcotic medication to get it under control. I think this is worth looking at. She is obviously suffering horribly. Pain can have many different effects on a person that you would not realize. She may even be unable to figure out what is wrong with her. The swelling in the abdomen worries me also. This can be a sign of liver failure. Is she yellow at all? Orange or yellow eyes? Keep a close eye on this. You need to get her to a hospital. Bless her heart. I wish you luck and hope you will get her to a hospital right now. Please let me know how she is doing. I am very concerned about her.
Brain

stoppitt,

It is great to have you come and be with us. You will fine a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. Please, just let us know how we can help you out. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Click on the following forum, there should be someone there to help you.

Depression:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum37.html
Survivors of Suicide:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum29.html

Please keep us up to date on your situation. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Praying for you and your wife...

Please post an update. She is severe with whatever her diagnosis is. A combination of things, I'm sure.

Prayers...

I have been researching ssri damage and it appears my wife may have suffered a chemical lobotomy. Is there any help for this at all?

Oh my gosh! I believe these anti-depressant drugs are poison. I googled chemical lobotomy and researched what you are talking about. I feel as if I have never been the same after being tried on all kinds of these different anti-depressant drugs for get this -pain. I have passing out episodes and have had over 8 concussions and have severe migraine headaches. I now have TBI/PCS, chronic pain, back,neck,head and injuries to my left leg and am finally being treated for pain with morphine. I improved so much when I received pain control.
I understand what you are talking about with damage done from these anti-depressant drugs. It looks like these companies have numerous lawsuits against them. I would join you in a lawsuit with the makers of these drugs if I was not so brain damaged.
I did see one lady that made a comment that she was able to recover from this chemical lobotomy by using acupuncture. It would be worth a try. At least it is not more chemicals. What do the doctors say about her condition? Of course they are all bought by these drug companies but I am curious what their explanation is. Good luck to you my friend. I am so sorry for you and your wife. I hope this can be reversed. Whatever you do- do not let her take any more of these anti-depressant poisons.
Brain